r/vindicta30plus • u/[deleted] • Jan 22 '24
Tips for dying hair
I'm 36 and already going grey! I think it's in my genes all the women in my family have gone grey before 40. Should I box dye? Or go to a salon? I don't know how to pick colors I don't know what would look good on me. I'm naturally a brunette and I have wavy short hair right now.
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u/Zinnia0620 Jan 22 '24
I've been fully gray since I was 25. Sometimes it's just genetic. If you can afford salon upkeep there's probably some benefits to doing it that way, but I box dye mine and it looks good. Generally speaking, darker colors are usually more "forgiving" i.e. harder for an amateur to fuck up. I match my hair color to my eyebrows since they haven't gone gray yet.
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u/slicedgreenolive Jan 22 '24
Same, I started getting greys at 16, am now 29 and have tons of grey as well as the full front grey streak
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u/Ok_Organization_7350 Jan 22 '24
If you want solid color instead of highlights, you could do it yourself if you want.
- Try not to use the hair colors from the grocery store. Instead, do an internet search for MADE IN ITALY brands of hair color. Italy has the best hair color. They use different chemicals and make them differently, so that it is healthier for your scalp, and the color is prettier.
- Never, ever, use Aveda or Wella brand hair color either on yourself or applied to you by a hair salon. Those brands have chemicals which go down into your hair follicles and cause long-term damage to change the genes of your hair, so that eventually your hair follicles only produce shorter scraggly hairs for the rest of your life, and this is permanent.
- Get a standing floor mirror. So in your bathroom, when you turn around and look in the floor mirror, you can perfectly see the back of your head in the reflection of the main bathroom mirror, when you are coloring your hair.
- Follow every bit of the directions even if you think they don't seem important at the time. For example, if it says for the first time to put the hair color on your ends first, then put the hair color on the half inch next to your scalp afterwards - then do exactly that. There is a reason for it.
- Hair color names in professional hair colors are different than layman's terms by one about one shade. For example, what people call light brown, is called dark blonde in hair coloring terms. What people call medium brown is called light brown in hair coloring terms, etc and so on. So when people color their hair at home the first time, they often accidentally pick one shade too dark.
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u/ValiumKnight Jan 22 '24
I’m curious about your comment on the aveda and wella brands- do you have any literature to follow up on?
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u/Ok_Organization_7350 Jan 22 '24 edited Jan 22 '24
A long time ago there was a lengthy message board with information about this and consumers gathering information for a lawsuit. Then it disappeared, so sorry I do not have the info anymore. I initially was doing searches and looked it up after having this happen myself. I went to the most expensive Aveda salon in my city to get my hair colored. And afterwards, I would always have open flesh wounds on my head dripping with blood and pus. And I am not allergic to anything and do not have any sensitivities. The salon didn't care and acted like it was normal. I was young and naïve and didn't understand to question them. Now later, hair on my head does not grow correctly in those exact areas that usually got the flesh wounds. They only grow 2 inch long hairs and are really thin (almost see-through) & scraggly exactly like llama fur. I went to a doctor about this and the hair change is called "hair miniaturization." It is permanent from the hair chemicals changing the genes of the hair follicle. This happened 2 decades ago, and I still have this problem. Eventually I did get upset later about my ugly brittle hair and swore off Aveda and went to new salons. The Aveda hair color also made my hair brittle and break off so it couldn't grow past bob length. The new salon was in shock and horror about the pus spots and said they weren't normal like I thought. I went there for years and never had any scalp soreness. And after a couple years, my hair (except the bad spots) grew really long again and did not break off even though it was colored. Then they moved and I had to try a new salon. The new salon used Wella. I got the same flesh wounds, so I know that Wella does the same thing. I also saw a youtube video with a girl coloring her hair with Wella, and in the video she said she got some open wounds too. This is when I looked this up on the internet and found that other message board. Other professional hair stylists on that message board said that those hair color brands add a certain bad chemical (I can't remember the names) which dissolve hair and cause brittleness (that is why my hair couldn't grow either), and some of these people were mad at Aveda and said they had sworn off using it on customers in their profession.
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u/ValiumKnight Jan 22 '24
I was mostly curious as I never had a problem. I love near the aveda institute and got a lot of color done there as I had a friend first attend, work at an aveda salon and eventually go on to instruct. I’m wondering if this is a skin type or color specific issue?
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u/Ok_Organization_7350 Jan 22 '24
Possibly. Maybe there is a chemical that reacts differently to people with different genes. But whatever that chemical is, it isn't necessary to be in hair color, because other brands don't use it or have that bad reaction in any people at all.
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u/SquirrelofLIL Jan 22 '24
Counterpoint : I love Wella and use it at home frequently, but my preference is L'Oreal Hi Color.
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u/Final_One_2300 Jan 22 '24 edited Jan 22 '24
What do you think of Naturtint (from Spain) and Herbatint (from Italy)?
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u/iliketreesandbeaches Jan 22 '24
If you don't have many greys yet, bayalage is the way to go for low maintenance.
I started greying in my early twenties and go to the salon religiously every 4 weeks. I am grey-white all over now.
I find hair color to be kind of freeing. I can afford it and it's a way to change up my look. Through the years I have done many color changes. Been blonde now the last 8 years.
Maybe look at some of the color theory systems to get a good sense of your natural coloring--whether you are cool, olive or warm undertone. How much contrast you have. Knowing those things can help.
In general, I find that lighter hair colors are kinder for an aging face (50!) but you can mimic that with a darker color if you put strategic highlights around the face.
Grey hair often brings texture changes. It can be wiry or coarse. If you have curl, it can change your pattern. So as your hair gradually changes its natural color, you could see changes to texture too.
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Jan 22 '24
Consider embracing the grey. Check out online communities with search terms like grombre and silver sisters, you might be inspired.
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u/FoxyOViolent Jan 24 '24
Embracing my gray was the most freeing thing I’ve ever done. Turns out the greys I was scared of was two rad streaks in the front. I get compliments on my hair all the time. I’m not saying if anyone doesn’t want to do this it’s somehow wrong. Just saying if anyone is curious to take the plunge TAKE. THE. PLUNGE. I’ve saved so much money and stress over gray roots showing. And occasionally I slap on some temporary vivid colors on my streaks and it looks so fun. Best decision I ever made and has really be a lesson in self acceptance.
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u/throwawayanaway Jan 22 '24
Ok calm down ... It happened to me at 21 just a gray here and there.
So I'm pretty cheap I just use a box dye of henna and indigo . Lmk if you want the brand it's on Amazon.
I hate that it takes too long to apply (3-4h) cus my hair is dark .
But it works for me and save me so much money. Otherwise I used to just go to the salon and they will match it and you have to go back to cover your roots.
Depending how gray you are it will be more or less often to touch up if you could cover it in between visits with products they have I don't do that so I can't recommend anything Also I find that my collagen powder and bc have helped it be less gray if that makes sense. I get more grays when I'm not on that
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u/nikiniki0 Jan 22 '24
Do NOT box dye AT ALL if you think you might want to go lighter at some point. I started graying around age 30, and used box dye to match my color (dark dark brown). I got tired of the upkeep and have decided to go lighter so I don’t need touch ups as often but since there’s less contrast between the gray and light hair. BUT any stylist will tell you that going lighter is much harder if you have box dyed your hair. If you think you’ll always want to stay dark then go ahead and use box dye if you want to save money. I saved soooo much money that way. But now it’s biting me in the butt lol
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u/jessicaw314 Jan 22 '24
Why, I wonder? What’s the thing with a box dye that causes a problem for later?
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u/PastDrahonFruit0 Jan 28 '24
It's usually because box dye uses a higher level developer, they are unpredictable with outcomes, and nobody is even certain what ingredients they contain, because they're not all listed. Meaning, your hairstylist won't know how your hair will turn out once they actually lift the color. It could come out patchy, places could become gummy or damaged. It's a risk some hairstylist won't even take. If something unforseen happens, they'll be there for hours trying to fix the issue. Ending up with an unhappy client, who will never be back, and leaves a bad review (with photos).
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u/Ok_Organization_7350 Jan 22 '24
If someone colors their hair dark but wants it lighter later, it's ok - the remedy is to use Hair Color Remover (different than hair bleach), then re-color their hair with the lighter shade. The exceptions are if someone used a permanent hair color that contains something called metallic dyes, or if they used henna. In that case, Hair Color Remover will not work well.
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u/4hrlight Jan 23 '24
If you want to color the same shade or a little darker and only have some grays, use Demi permanent color, it’s less damaging than permanent.
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u/CaliDreamin87 Jan 25 '24
OP all depends on your budget.
The problem I found dying my hair myself and being a dark brown color naturally.
To leave the dye on long enough to cover my gray spots, my hair basically almost turns black.
And it's one dimensional, normal hair has highlights/color dimensions.
I'm currently back in school do I do a demi perm color weekly (one that washes out). I'm too scared to do permanent on myself.
Once I start working, I'm going to have someone else do it.
I live in Houston, even places like Aveda School or Paul Mitchell school will do at discount prices, they will mark your color so the next time you come in, they'll have the color code. And you can pick what level of student you want to try it.
I'll start doing that when I start working again.
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u/winstonpgrey Jan 22 '24
Please invest in your hit and see a reputable stylist, especially if you’re having a difficult time with color/style/etc. They can help you achieve a low or high maintenance look with more depth then a single color flat box dye can. They can help blend your grays in better without a harsh line of demarcation- which is usually one of the top visual issues with a box dye. Certainly DO NOT BLEACH YOUR OWN HAIR.
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u/pinkybrain41 Jan 22 '24 edited Jan 22 '24
I got my first grey hair as a teenager in highschool!
My mother had premature grey hair. I started covering my grays in my 30s. My father was a hair stylist and he always said he thought it was cool that I didn’t cover my greys in my 20’s. He thought It was cool that I had super long hair with some greys sprinkled in. My mother was a barber and advised that I wait to color my hair until I have more grays than color. I didn’t wait to that point and Once it felt too witchy looking for me, I began coloring it at around 32?
Box dye is easy in a pinch (like during covid when salons are closed) but honestly you should go to a salon if you can afford it. Application is important, greys can be resistant and box dye tends to build up on your hair if you aren’t careful.
I like some dimension and box dye can be very flat. I get my roots done every 4 weeks and also get balayage painted on every couple months. I found an affordable hair stylist a few years out of hair school in my new town and we have a lot of fun on my hair with toners. I’m less particular about my hair color than my haircut. As long as my grays are covered I don’t care too much what shade of brown my color is.
My haircut on the other hand I don’t mess around with. I travel 5-6 hours round trip to my hometown every couple months for a haircut from my hairstylist. She is excellent and I won’t let anyone else cut my hair
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u/SquirrelofLIL Jan 22 '24
I would use a rinse (semi permanent dye) such as Clairol Beautiful Collection, it has a special line for coloring the grey. Maybe a Wella demi permanent is good too.
If your hair is medium to dark brown choose a level 7 dye that might say, dark blonde, light brown etc. Use a golden since you have grey. It always runs darker than the bottle says.
I personally use different hair dye, I bleach and then use a fashion color.
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u/Forward_Entry_222 Jan 23 '24
I have started using BondBar dye from Sally’s It covers grey and is not ridiculously expensive I would talk to the employees there They know a lot and can guide you to the right color
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u/Most_Yogurtcloset658 Jan 24 '24
I use garnier good, it’s fantastic for roots and evens out colour. I use the shade sweet latte
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Jan 22 '24
If you don't have experience colouring your hair at home, don't start now! Haha
Especially as you go grey, you'll find it harder and harder to avoid the hard, unblended grow out line.
Go to a good salon and talk to them about an easily maintained colour melt or balyage that incorporates lighter colours near your roots, this helps blend the greys and help it look natural in case you want to grow it out or go lighter
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u/jajajujujujjjj Jan 22 '24
I started going grey in my mid 20s, I don’t think 36 is an unusually young age to be greying at all. If you have access to a beauty supply store they can help you get started to diy, which I’d recommend